Greg Haugen was a multiple world champion and fought boxing greats such as Vinny Pazienza, Hector Camacho and Julio Cesar Chavez. He has now died at the age of 64.
Greg Haugen stands for a unique record in professional boxing. His world championship fight against Julio Cesar Chavez on February 20, 1993 took place in front of the largest crowd in boxing history. The duel between the two light-welterweights in Mexico City’s Aztec Stadium was watched by over 132,000 fans. The US-American lost to Chavez in the fight for the WBC crown by T.K.O. in the 5th round.
Light-welterweight and semi-welterweight champ
Born on August 31, 1960 in Auburn, Washington (USA), Haugen began boxing at the age of five. By his own admission, he fought over 340 amateur fights before turning professional in 1982. In 1986, Haugen won the IBF lightweight title, lost it again and regained it in 1988. He later also won the WBO light-welterweight title (1991). Haugen’s boxing CV included victories against ring greats such as Vinny Pazienza, Hector Camacho and Julio Cesar Chavez. He ended his career in 1999 after 50 professional fights (39-10-1, 19 knockouts).
Duel with “cab driver world champion” Chavez
When Haugen competed against Mexico’s boxing idol Julio Cesar Chavez in the Aztec Stadium in 1993, he brought a very special explosiveness to the duel. “Chavez’s victories came against cab drivers from Tijuana. They could even have whipped my mother,” he said. Haugen practically turned the entire stadium of 132,247 fans against him. In the fight itself, Chavez made him suffer, delaying the end and the clear defeat until the fifth round. After the fight, Haugen confessed: “Those must have been very tough cab drivers.”
In 2023, Haugen announced that he was suffering from kidney cancer. Last Saturday evening, the Hall-of-Famer passed away at the age of 64 in a care facility near Seattle (USA).
Text: Frank Schwantes